Live Music Is Coming Back to Khyber Pass Pub in Old City

Khyber Pass Pub on Second Street in Old City, one of a collection of popular bars and restaurants from Stephen Simons and David Frank, is returning to its roots as a music venue. While keeping its first-floor bar and Southern-Cajun-Creole restaurant intact, Khyber has reopened the second floor as an intimate performance space. The Smashing Pumpkins, the Strokes, the War on Drugs, the White Stripes, Hole, Kurt Vile, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, My Morning Jacket, and Iggy Pop are among the artists who played there in its original incarnation as a rock club.

Following a couple of shows this summer, Upstairs at Khyber makes its official public debut Friday, September 6, with a photo retrospective of 1990s and early 2000s rock shows from Paul Havelin, a photographer who used to bartend at the Khyber.

The upstairs space has its own bar with six draft lines, along with a food like po’boys, burgers, and other items from the restaurant’s main menu.

Here’s the lineup of performances — there are comedy shows and DJ nights mixed in with the concerts.

The Khyber first opened in 1970 and became Khyber Pass Pub in 2010 when it transformed into more of a restaurant than a music venue.

Current owners Simons and Frank also have Royal Tavern, Triangle Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos, Cantina Dos Segundos, Royal Boucherie (next to Khyber), and Royal Sushi & Izakaya.

• Here’s what was happening at The Khyber 24 years ago this month [The Key]
• The Khyber is Reborn as the Khyber Pass Pub [Uwishunu]
• Eat Your Way Through Philadelphia’s Historic District